69 replies to this topic

[Esau of Isaac]

Now that I've reread the game script again (it's been years since I've played through the game, and years still since I've watched someone else play it through, so I needed a refresher,) the story is incredibly weak, and the characters hardly interact with each other.

I think this is true of a lot of games, in fact. It's very difficult to have dialogue given for most party members the more you have, so many things about a character that fans come to know and love aren't always made strictly defined.

[PolterGhost]

It just seems ironic that story is one of the things most late FF fans agree is the strongest point of the games, you know? I mean, I can appreciate that some games have a good story, but I prefer good gameplay cemented with at least a decent story more than I like a good story with crap gameplay. Chrono Trigger is good story with gameplay that makes me yawn, and yet I love Shin Megami Tensei because they don't burden you with too much story and just make a really tough dungeon crawler. But, when the story isn't strong to begin with, and yet it's being defended...

[Esau of Isaac]

Ironically, I think Chrono Trigger has an amazing storyline and fair characterization. And there are some very story-heavy MegaTen games, like the Digital Devil Saga and Persona series. I think I'd definitely agree that many of their titles like Strange Journey have extremely simplified plot, but I've always thought Final Fantasy fleshed out well comparatively at the least.

Maybe it's just about reading between the lines or something for a lot of the unsaid portions. I always connected with everything from VII-X, and even some of XII. And despite how endearing I've found the earlier titles, it was hard for me to become engrossed in the myriad details of their world, perhaps because of the graphics. It also might be because I hold the games to a higher standard then their contemporaries, many of which I had played by that point. More, I might have just spoiled myself because of how they used to be. For example, I thought most of XII was absolutely dreadful. And XIII was one of the least pleasing RPGs I have ever bought in my life. Like Jesus Christ that game was awful. Is this how some people genuinely feel playing earlier titles in the series? Can't imagine.

Edited by Esau of Isaac, 19 June 2012 - 08:41 PM.

[SeverIan]

But Phantasy Star series STILL had better looking cutscenes than FF7.

Spoiler - Phantasy Star 4

I love PS4
but that picture of Alys is just terrible.

And Grys looks embarrassed, like he's watching a reunited couple make out or something (<3 Grys!).

Also if you're gonna go to PS4 cutscene as opposed to "normal game" graphics like you did with FF7, why not do FF7 the same courtesy?

Spoiler -

What groundbreaking material here. No one has ever died saving the party, especially not in any preceding titles in the series.

There are probably more deaths, or supposed deaths before miraculous recovery, in FF2 and 4 along this line than in the rest of the series so far.

Edited by Hawkeye Hank Hatfield, 21 June 2012 - 03:09 PM.

[Gone2Ground]

Galuf dies saving the party in FFV, and stays dead except for a handful of spirit form cutscenes (See Advent Children for Aeris' copies of these scences). Only real difference was Galuf's Death = Awesome, Aeris Dies = hentai MEANT to be sad.
WHY EVERYONE FORGET ABOUT V?!

[SeverIan]

Galuf dies saving the party in FFV, and stays dead except for a handful of spirit form cutscenes (See Advent Children for Aeris' copies of these scences). Only real difference was Galuf's Death = Awesome, Aeris Dies = hentai MEANT to be sad.
WHY EVERYONE FORGET ABOUT V?!

I'm pretty sure that there's also a shot of lifestream Aeris in the ending cutscene of FF7, and that she otherwise stays dead?

Personally I thought both Galuf and Aeris's deaths were good.

[Esau of Isaac]

There are probably more deaths, or supposed deaths before miraculous recovery, in FF2 and 4 along this line than in the rest of the series so far.

That's what I meant. It was actually pretty common in Final Fantasy for people to die in such means up until that point. Hell, Final Fantasy II had enough that died doing so that they were able to make a new dungeon for them to play in after they died in Soul of Rebirth.

Galuf dies saving the party in FFV, and stays dead except for a handful of spirit form cutscenes (See Advent Children for Aeris' copies of these scences). Only real difference was Galuf's Death = Awesome, Aeris Dies = hentai MEANT to be sad.
WHY EVERYONE FORGET ABOUT V?!

In Final Fantasy VII, at least, Aeris is never shown as a cognizant, acting human ever again after her death. We are told afterwards that everything was her will, but in the game proper it's easy to dismiss the saving action as being a final farewell of sorts.

I thought her death was much more powerful without looking at the repeated cameos in Advent Children. Same with Zack. Death should be final. There shouldn't be any comforting words between friends that are separated by death. I think, for example, Crisis Core's ending would have been much more impacting if we didn't see Zack being directly uplifted. I think his final words ("Do you think I became a hero?") were very touching, but I'd rather them have been his last words than something he says after he dies. Or at least, if those were to stay, I'd rather him not definitively note of this warm touching afterlife that lets the audience know he's going to be absolutely fine.

[FionordeQuester]

Personally, I thought the game was absolutely perfect EXCEPT for the fact that it is depressingly easy to beat, even without going out of your way to get Knights of the Round or any of that other fancy stuff. Case in point...

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/197341-final-fantasy-vii/53614525
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/197341-final-fantasy-vii/54732744
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/197341-final-fantasy-vii/55421695

Of course, the threads kind of got hijacked by some real goofballs at some points, but I think they still adequately demonstrate how easy the game is.

[Esau of Isaac]

I thought that was one of its strengths, actually, as it was a good introduction for me. If it had been quite difficult in a traditional fashion like Dragon Quest I probably would have never really gotten into RPGs at all.

Though I think I might have personally had a bit more difficulty with VII than the later ones barring X from what I recall, though I don't remember any of them being incredibly difficult anyways. It's kind of cool that when I get that calling to go back and play it, I can punch through it without too much grinding needed. When I feel the desire to play FFIV for example it can be daunting for me. Or I. Oh God Final Fantasy I's encounter rate was horrifying.

Edited by Esau of Isaac, 27 June 2012 - 01:19 AM.

[1st Mate Bob]

The reason why it's so easy to beat is because we're veteran gamers now, and I'm sure we've all played more difficult RPGs since then, too. Granted, back in the day it wasn't INSANELY difficult either, but it's better if your game is a little too easy than too difficult. That way you aren't alienating possible consumers players from playing your game.